The New York Jets need to move on from their $58 million mistake after 2012. That's the value of the new five-year contract quarterback Mark Sanchez signed in March, with $20 million guaranteed.

Eight months later, it's safe to say the team is getting little to no return on its investment.

Further evidence was seen in Sunday's devastating 30-9 home loss to the Dolphins, an AFC East rival whom the Jets beat in overtime in Week 3. Sanchez committed more two turnovers, bringing his season total to 11. The devil is in the details—it was the fifth time his passing efficiency rating couldn't break 66.6.

There have been the few super-efficient games against bad defenses where Jets officials remain convinced that Sanchez can be more Jekyll than Hyde in the short term. But it's time they removed the mask over their eyes to see that he just isn't a franchise quarterback long-term.

Ryan's argument, and it's a fair one, is that the Jets' offensive problems are a lot more disconcerting than who's under center. The quarterback has gotten little help from the pass protection and the running game, and has to adjust to a receiving corps depleted by injury.

The coach also is in a difficult place. There's no quick fix for Sanchez and what's happening around him. Given the recent front-office commitment to Sanchez, it's only natural if Ryan is compelled to honor it as much as possible.

Ryan told reporters Monday that he won't be replacing Sanchez with Tim Tebow for Week 10's game in Seattle.

"I think Mark gives us the best chance to win," Ryan said. "That's how I feel. Can Tim be successful? Yeah, absolutely. We’ll look at that as well.

"But in my opinion, Mark as the starting quarterback gives my football team the best chance to win."

The worst thing to have in the NFL is false hope. The parity in the AFC playoff race is making many teams feel like a wild-card contender. The Jets are one of those masquerading as a mediocre team, when they're on the brink of being a bad one with Sanchez.

Ryan's hands are tied because there's the stark realization the Jets can't be much better with Tebow. Even with their offense struggling while Sanchez is the starter, they refuse to use Tebow more than a handful of times per game. They don't know even how to play Tebow in a complementary, Wildcat-type role, so what reason is there to think they'll be effective with him full-time while further limiting their passing playbook?

It's unfair to throw in Tebow now and ask him to bless this mess. Three of the next four games come against well-coached brutal defenses from the NFC West—the Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals. The other is against another AFC East rival that has Tebow pretty well figured out by now—the Patriots.

So here it is for Sanchez. Ryan's endorsement of him came backed by the fact the Jets can still sneak into the playoffs with a sudden second-half surge. This next quarter-stretch of the season is built to make him for now or break him for good.

Given the matchups and how Sanchez is playing, the latter is the likely scenario, and it may be what it takes to finally make Ryan and Jets accept Sanchez isn't the right man to lead them on the field.

It will be hard to accept that just four years after the Jets drafted Sanchez fifth overall, they will need to select a quarterback around the same spot in 2013. But look at the two other quarterbacks taken in the first round of 2009—Detroit's Matthew Stafford and Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman. Stafford already had his breakout season in 2011 and has gotten back in track this year. Freeman looks like he's putting it all together this season.

Given the recent, quick success of high-profile young quarterbacks, those who have promise, like Sanchez once did, have a smaller window to show they can live up to their talents.

This year's rookie class is off to a flying start, and next April will offer more intriguing options, such as Southern Cal's Matt Barkley, West Virginia's Geno Smith and Arkansas' Tyler Wilson. All those choices, even going down the Trojans route again with Barkley, are good opportunities to move past Sanchez.

The Jets have let their messy quarterback situation fester for so long that turning desperately to Tebow can no longer save their season, but rather just put a bandage on a much bigger wound. For the sake of the franchise beyond 2012, Gang Green must wave the white flag on the Sanchise.